Sprucing Up Your House for the Holidays
BWS Design • December 5, 2016
Now that the holiday season is upon us, many families will be welcoming guests into their homes. If you’re like most people, you probably worry about your home being clean and welcoming enough for holiday guests. But if you put in the needed time to clean and prepare your home for guests before they arrive, you can enjoy them more, knowing they’re comfortable and relaxed. Here are a few tips for sprucing up your home for holiday guests.
The Kitchen
Because the kitchen is where your guests will probably be gathering to socialize and munch on holiday goodies, it’s crucial that this room looks and smells as fresh and clean as possible.
- To clean sinks, use a soft rag or nylon sponge, along with mild soap or an all-purpose glass cleaner. Don’t use abrasive cleaners, bleach or ammonia on stainless steel because this can compromise the finish.
- Get rid of any unpleasant kitchen odors, such as those coming from your garbage disposal. One way to freshen a garbage disposal is by chopping up a lemon, including the rind, and then throwing it down your disposal.
- To sharpen disposal blades, throw in a few small ice cubes. Be sure your kitchen garbage container smells good, so hose it down. Then, once it’s dry, spray it with an air freshener.
- To clean oven and stove-tops, use water and baking soda to scrub off caked-in goo.
Guest Rooms
- Adorn beds with decorative quilts or comforters, along with fluffy pillows.
- Consider installing lightweight sheers or woven blinds that can usher in morning sunlight.
- Launder bedspreads and shake dirt out of throw rugs.
- Include interesting magazines and reading material on bed-stands.
- If possible, set up a TV on the dresser for guests who stay up late.
- Remove any clutter.
Windows and Window Coverings
- To clean windows, use a commercial product or a water and vinegar solution. After spraying the windows, wipe them with a clean rubber-bladed squeegee. Work from the top to the bottom, making sure the squeegee is angled toward the base of the window.
- Clean window screens so that all grime is removed. Rather than taking down your screens and hosing them down, you can simply use a dust-brush attachment from your vacuum cleaner to remove dust. The quickest and most effective method is going side to side and top to bottom.
- Although cleaning curtains manually entails more work than just tossing them into a washer, hand-washing them reduces the likelihood of shrinkage, and it’s the best option for delicate fabrics.
- On the other hand, don’t wash heavy fabrics by hand as it’s harder to remove the water.
- Steam clean curtains made of exceptionally heavy materials.
- If you don’t have time to dry clean your curtains or drapes, you could still freshen them up by spraying them with fabric refresh spray. After gently shaking the fabric, stand back a few feet and spray the drapes. Then, shake the fabric once more.
Bathrooms
- Prepare guest bathrooms by making sure there are plenty of clean hand and bath towels, so your guests don’t have to ask for them. You don’t want them to use your old, ratty-looking, everyday towels.
- Remove all film and soil, using an all-purpose bathroom cleaner. Stubborn deposits can be removed with a soft-scrub cleaning product
- Launder shower and window curtains.
- To get rid of deposits on shower floors and eliminate bathtub rings, use abrasive scrubbing pads. It helps to use an old toothbrush to remove stubborn deposits that have built up around faucets and tub fixtures.
- Using a disinfecting spray to sanitize toilets, spray the seat, toilet rims and bowel exterior. Then, use a fresh cleaning cloth to wipe your toilet clean and dry.
Considerations and Warnings
- For best results, clean your windows on a cloudy day because direct sunlight can cause the cleaner to dry too rapidly, which can leave streaks on windows.
- To clean baseboards, use a sponge that’s been dipped into a solution of dish soap and warm water. Vinegar also works well in scrubbing away blemishes.
- Homemade bathroom cleaners do a better job of keeping your bathrooms shiny and clean without subjecting them to harsh chemicals.
- Dust all light fixtures and remove cobwebs from ceilings.
One of the main household items that guests notice is window coverings. Regardless of how well you try to clean old drapes and blinds, sometimes you just need to replace your window coverings. Don’t hesitate to call Just Blinds. We have a wide range of high quality window treatments for every room in your home. Please contact us and learn more about our various products.
Expert Advice by Just Blinds
Outdoor shades are wonderful additions to your home. Not only do they allow you to enjoy mornings and evenings on your porch or patio in comfort, but they also protect you from some of the harshest side effects of the sun, including excessive UV exposure , which can lead to serious health consequences over time. If you have exterior shades installed, one of the best ways to protect your investment and ensure that your outdoor shades stand the test of time, protecting you and your family over the long haul, is to institute a routine cleaning and maintenance plan. How Often Should You Clean And Maintain Your Exterior Shades? Because needs will always vary by season and climate, it's best to visually inspect your exterior shades once a month. If you see any buildup of dust or pollen, or any obvious maintenance issues, address them immediately. At least once per quarter, you should also schedule a thorough cleaning and maintenance check. Every three months, around the time the seasons change, schedule a day to clean and thoroughly check your blinds for any routine maintenance. Particularly if you live in the Southeast, we recommend scheduling thorough cleaning and maintenance in January, April, July, and October. 3 Steps to Cleaning Your Home's Exterior Shades First, start by thoroughly cleaning your exterior shades. Step 1: Gather your cleaning supplies. You will need the following: A bucket and a mild cleaning agent A hose and water supply A soft brush or broom A soft cloth When it comes to your cleaning agent, be sure to avoid any solutions with harsh chemicals. If you haven't received information on any manufacturer-specific suggestions, we recommend using a mild dish soap diluted in water. Step 2: Dust away dirt and debris. Using your soft brush or broom, gently remove all excess buildup of dust, dirt, and debris. Make note of any trouble spots that will need more extensive cleaning. Step 3: Thoroughly clean your exterior shades. Begin by testing your cleaning solution in a small, hidden area. If you see any strong reaction, including erosion or discoloration, stop immediately and seek more information. Only if your shades respond well should you proceed with a full cleaning. Start by using your hose to gently rinse your exterior shades from top to bottom. Next, using your soft cloth, clean the shades, removing all accumulations of dirt and grime. After a final rinse with the hose, allow the shades to air dry in the sun. If necessary, repeat this step until your shades are fully clean. What Routine Maintenance Issues Should You Check For As You Clean? As you clean your exterior shades, keep your eyes peeled for any routine maintenance issues that may need to be addressed. Trouble spots to watch out for include the following: Fading color. Though color fading in itself is not an emergency, it can show that your exterior shades are beginning to show wear and tear. Assess the extent of the damage and consult with Just Blinds to evaluate the projected longevity of your current shades. Sagging shades. Sagging shades don't necessarily need to be replaced, but they may need to be re-tensioned. Check the external hardware and see if anything needs to be tightened up or replaced. Rips, tears, gaps, or holes. No matter how small, these issues need to be addressed immediately. Addressing these issues early can prevent the damage from growing, preventing more costly repairs down the line. Buy a patch kit and follow the instructions for sealing up any trouble spots. Just Blinds Is Here to Help To hear more about how to maintain your exterior shades, or to learn more about how outdoor shades can add value to your home and help you better enjoy your outdoor living areas by reducing heat, offering increased privacy, and lowering your UV exposure, feel free to contact us . We look forward to serving you.
When the mercury soars, never underestimate the power of blinds, shades, and other window treatments to keep your living space cool. With the techniques that follow, you can limit demand on your air conditioner, lower your energy bill, and maintain stunning aesthetics both inside and out. 1. Go For the Layered Look If you don't want blackout blinds that completely block out light and heat, consider layering your window treatments for the summer months. This is a great way to add depth and texture to your rooms while still maintaining a tight home envelope and limiting solar heat gains. Use wood or faux wood blinds to create a solid base layer. Then, add sheers and custom curtains to finish the look. Layering creates levels of flexibility and adaptability that single window treatments cannot match. You can close all three layers for maximum heat blocking, slant your blinds and close your sheers to let limited sunlight in, or open your drapes and your blinds and use your sheers for light filtering. 2. Beat the Heat With Outdoor Window Treatments Some of the best window treatments for blocking heat and light during the summer months belong on the outside of your home. If you haven't done so already, consider investing in shutters. Shutters can vastly improve the efficiency of your home while providing excellent UV ray protection. This will keep your flooring and furnishings from fading while offering a fair amount of skin protection. In addition to tightening home envelopes, shutters provide excellent noise reduction and offer added protection against the natural elements. With your shutters standing guard as your home's first defense, you'll still have one or more window treatments at the interior of the building during the next big heat wave. Outdoor Shades Work, Too If shutters aren't the right look for you, opt for lightweight, retractable shades. Installing outdoor shades gives you yet another way to safeguard your home from solar heat gains whenever temperatures spike. You can use outdoor shades with layered indoor window treatments to create an airtight space and reduce stress on your AC during the hottest portion of the day. Once the sun sets, you can easily draw them open. 3. Optimize Airflow According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air can be up to five time more contaminated than outdoor air. Even though air conditioners and heat pumps filter the indoor air during operation, they don't extract volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other gaseous chemical contaminants. When the sun's out and you're running your air conditioner non-stop, all the contaminants introduced into your home by off-gassing building materials, cooking, room freshening sprays, and chemical-laden self-care products and cleaners remain trapped indoors. Blinds are great for optimizing airflow. When the sun sets, the mercury dives, and a cool breeze rolls in, you can turn your blind slats upwards to reflect light from the setting sun and slightly crack your windows. This technique works well for giving ACs an early evening break. It's also an excellent strategy for improving indoor air quality (IAQ). As natural light decreases, you can open your blind slats wider and let more fresh, outdoor air flow in. This easy air exchange will get your home and your IAQ ready for the challenges of the next sweltering day. 4. Keep Indoor Moisture in Check With Shades With a high-functioning air conditioner or heat pump, you'll get reliable humidity regulation whenever your cooling system is on. The right shades can support this by keeping outdoor moisture outside and preventing the buildup of condensation on your windows. Cellular shades are made for high-moisture areas, and they're the perfect addition to any other southern home. You can get similar benefits from faux wood blinds, vinyl blinds, and aluminum blinds. Moisture-resistant blinds or shades are an essential upgrade if you currently have heavy fabric drapes or multiple layers of sheers. Some materials capture and retain moisture. They're also prone to problems like mold and mildew and can lower IAQ as a result. 5. Go Motorized Don't worry about dragging your ladder out to draw your outdoor shades or running through your home to manually adjust your blinds. Shop for motorized window treatments that you can open, close, and adjust with just the touch of a button. This way, as lighting and temperatures change, you can quickly adapt your window treatments to reflect your most current needs. At Just Blinds, we're all about comfort. We want your window treatments to look amazing, but believe that you should feel amazing too. We offer a fantastic selection of blinds, shutters, shades, and custom draperies to help our clients beat the heat in the summer months . Let us help you stay cool in style. To speak with our design consultants, contact Just Blinds today!